Christmas gifts being donated to church to give to 1,000 needy children

To contribute to needy children via the Triumph Church's "Giving Tree," call 313-386-8044 or 248-443-8111. Drop-off times for gifts at 15600 J.L. Hudson Drive at the Millennium Theatre are Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Triumph Church -- which has three Sunday services in Southfield at the Millennium Theatre behind Northland Mall -- is working to provide more than 1,000 needy children with at least one complete outfit this Christmas.

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Each outfit, member Steve Anderson said, includes pants, a shirt and shoes or dress and shoes or a coat and boots as well as one toy this Christmas.

This is a record as far as the largest number of requests for gifts from Triumph Church's "Giving Tree" project, which has been providing clothes and toys to children since 1999.

"They have lost jobs. There are fewer and fewer places to even find employment. Those that are working are using every dime to provide housing and heat. Those who have cars can barely afford gas for work. It's a battle on every side," Kinloch said.

The church offers three worship services on Sunday mornings at 8:45 a.m., 10:45 a.m. and 12:45 a.m. The three services are held at the Millennium Centre in Southfield.

"Imagine on Christmas morning, a child runs to the Christmas Tree -- if there is one -- and there's nothing there," said Kinloch. "As a community, we must fill this gap. We are 'blessed' to be a blessing."

In this economy, non-profits -- especially churches -- are hit particularly hard by the lack of household income, even among churchgoers, he said.

People have less discretionary income and the church tithes and offerings are oftentimes the first to go when weighed against rent, mortgage, lights, heat or gas.

"Even though the church is not exempt for financial struggles in this economy, we refuse to stop doing ministry and helping those who are in need," Kinloch said. "God is going to help us help these children -- and we know there are some angels out here in Oakland County who can help us."

Triumph Church is asking that those "angels" provide one complete new outfit or pair of child boots or a coat for a boy or girl coat or teenager and one toy -- from bikes and dolls to trucks and electronic games -- to the Millennium Center, 15600 J.L. Hudson Drive in Southfield from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11 through Friday, Dec. 14.

"Please do what you can to help make this Christmas a memorable one for a needy child," Kinloch said.